Chelsea vs LAFC Group D Opener Delivers Drama in Atlanta
In the Chelsea vs LAFC clash at the Club World Cup in Atlanta, Chelsea F.C. edged LAFC 2-0. Liam Delap, making his Chelsea debut after moving from Ipswich Town, provided the assist for the second goal. Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernández found the net, helping the Blues claim victory in front of a sparse crowd at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
First-Half Action and Neto’s Strike
Chelsea struck first in the 34th minute. Nicolas Jackson sent a perfect downfield pass to Pedro Neto, who faked out defender Ryan Hollingshead and slotted a low shot past Hugo Lloris. Earlier, Chelsea had picked up two yellow cards, and tensions flared when Neto and Denis Bouanga exchanged words. Despite the laboured display, Chelsea’s finishing edge shone through.
- Chelsea nearly doubled the lead in the 54th minute when Neto set up Jackson, but Timothy Tillman blocked the headed attempt.
- LAFC’s Denis Bouanga tested Robert Sánchez in the 57th minute, but the shot was saved, keeping Chelsea ahead.
Delap’s Debut and Fernández’s Finish
Liam Delap entered as a 64th-minute substitute and impressed immediately. He picked up the ball about 30 yards from goal, drove at LAFC captain Aaron Long, and almost set up Fernández. In the 79th minute, Delap delivered a fine cross from the right for Enzo Fernández, who tapped home a left-footed finish from close range. This sealed the 2-0 win in the Chelsea vs LAFC encounter.
Chelsea’s midfielder Dario Essugo also made his debut, while LAFC featured World Cup winners Olivier Giroud and Hugo Lloris. Despite creating chances through Bouanga and substitute David Martinez, LAFC could not score. Chelsea have now won eight of their past nine matches, including the Conference League final.
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Sparse Crowd Raises Questions
The official attendance was just 22,137 in the 71,000-seater stadium. Fans pointed to high ticket prices, minimal marketing, and a weekday 3pm kickoff as reasons for the low turnout. Atlanta, known for high MLS attendances, had over 70,000 watch Chelsea vs Newcastle in a friendly two years ago. The small crowd at Chelsea vs LAFC highlights concerns ahead of major events like the 2026 World Cup.
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What’s Next for Chelsea and LAFC
Chelsea will continue group play against Flamengo in Philadelphia on Friday (19:00 BST). LAFC face ES Tunis in Nashville later that day (23:00). Group D concludes the following Tuesday: Chelsea meet ES Tunis and LAFC play Flamengo. Fans wondering where to watch Chelsea F.C. vs LAFC can look out for official broadcasts, but no additional details were provided here.
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